Enhancing low-rank coal flotation using a mixture of dodecane and n-valeric acid as a collector

Abstract

ABSTRACT Low-rank coals are difficult to float using common hydrocarbon oily collectors, such as dodecane and diesel. In this investigation, a mixture of dodecane and n-valeric acid was used as a collector to enhance low-rank coal flotation. The changes in the induction time and surface functional groups of low-rank coal were measured before and after different collector’s adsorption to indicate its absorption mechanism. The surface free energy was calculated to identify the interaction mechanism quantitatively between coal and collectors. The results showed that the flotation performance using the mixture as a collector was much better than that using dodecane or n-valeric acid solely. The induction time of coal conditioned with the mixed collector was the shortest, which meant the better hydrophobicity and floatability. When used the mixture as collector, the polar group of the n-valeric acid interacting with the oxygenated functional group on the coal surface by hydrogen bond while dodecane primarily covers the hydrophobic sites on the coal surface. Additionally, the mixed collector can minimize the surface free energy of raw coal, the dodecane primarily reduces the nonpolar part of the coal surface free energy while the n-valeric acid reduces the polar part of the coal surface free energy.